china censorship

Today, I received a message from a friend born in China and now living in the US. She is a widely known and read writer for a publication in the West. She submitted a column to a publication based in China. Following is the online conversation she had with the editor of the publication based in China.
 
Editor: “I loved it!”
 
Shortly after a staff meeting …

Editor: “We’ll we need more adaptations. We will hide your life experience in the US because it would make the audience feel bad.
 
“We will delete the part that you made an assumption that a food which is popular in China could have been inspired by Mexican Concha because nothing could be greater than Chinese culture. 
 
“We will also delete the part you depicted the life in Hong Kong because this word is forbidden.”
 
My friend: “As you wish. I am done. It is what it is, whatever you’d like to modify.”

Editor-in-chief: “Please add love to your words to make Chinese culture great. Don’t forget to dig out the pessimistic part of the overseas life to indicate China is great. Emmm, make China great again.”

That was the message the editor-in-chief sent to my friend after publication in anticipation of any other columns she might submit in the future.
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